Ava and Katie eat a cinnamon roll

A photo essay

Quoted

"I always thought if you worked hard enough and tried hard enough, things would work out. I was wrong."

Katharine Graham

Winter Break

Our school system provides a lot of breaks. I mean seriously a lot. The kids never go to school longer than nine weeks. And it seems like they miss a ton of days within that nine weeks for holidays, conferences, etc. I'm not complaining. I will embrace any opportunity to skip that 5 AM alarm. But, as much as I can, I like to get the girls out of the house at least once a day. During summer break, it's pretty easy. It's a lil more difficult in the winter and more expensive too. But it's worth it not to watch the three older girls spend ten hours on the computer or playing video games. And, the two smallest girls...well, trust me, you don't wanna know what those two will cook up without some kind of distractions.

(And yeah, I know some of these pics are teh suck but I was working with a cell phone camera so cut me a little slack.)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Snow Day

This post should be accompanied by a delightful shot of my children frolicking in our snowy yard. That picture doesn't exist of course because we received a sixteenth of an inch of snow which just won't work for frolicking. I could care less whether it snows or not. Now that I have no job, it's no big deal for me if they cancel school for a thunderstorm but...

I must admit that I am pretty pissed about this particular snow incident or lack thereof. For almost a week, they have been predicting snow for today. I am very wary of long term forecasts so I didn't pay a lot of attention. The forecast remained consistent through last night. 90% chance of precipitation. That seems pretty likely to me. Apparently every school system in Middle Tennessee agreed so schools were closed last night. I have been through the drama of early dismissal due to snow many times. It's a complete pain so I totally understand why schools would close in anticipation of such an event.

So I wake up this morning to find...NOTHING. I remember this happening constantly when I was a kid. Snow would be forecast for days. News stories would be nonstop about how life as we knew it would never be the same, blah, blah blah. I would do my homework anyway because I was a complete nerd. I would wake early expecting to go right back to sleep after observing the winter wonderland outside my window and hearing Ron Howes declare "Sumner - closed". Invariably I would be disappointed with a scene similar to the one I saw this morning.

The annoying thing is that the weather forecasting is supposed to be so much better now than it was 20 years ago. People keep telling me this so I just assumed it was true. Whether it is or not, I do not know. What I do know is that, once again, I have been punk'd by snowbird.

Scenes from Kline Manor

Me: Katie, I bet you are getting bored with the lunches that I pack for you.

Katie: (blank stare)

Me: Well, I'm getting bored with them. Can you think of anything you would like me to pack for you?

Katie: (annoyed stare)

Me: What could I put into your lunch box that would make you super happy when you opened it?

Katie: A thousand dollars

Sunday Picture

Resolved

My New Year's Resolution for 2010 was a no-brainer decision for me.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22 NIV

I have a lot of things in my life that need work...my body, my house,etc. But nothing means more to me than this. I know it's not something that I will achieve in one year or even one decade. But I have to get closer than I am today.

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,
23.not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
24.Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good - crucified.
25.Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.
26.That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Galatians 5:22 The Message